SAN JOSE – Last weekend, California native and San Jose Earthquakes forward, Quincy Amarikwa scored his fourth goal against Houston Dynamo in his last
SAN JOSE – Last weekend, California native and San Jose Earthquakes forward, Quincy Amarikwa scored his fourth goal against Houston Dynamo in his last five appearances.
[quote_box_center]“He works hard and battles,” Quakes captain and also California native, Chris Wondolowski said. “You want someone out there that has that. I think he brings some passion and something special. It’s always nice to play with that.”[/quote_box_center]
Even though the Quakes lost to Houston Dynamo by 2-1, Amarikwa showed a hunger for goals. In the 72nd minute of the game, he hustled for a ball that had no real chances to goal and gave the opponents a hard time. Even with a man down, Amarikwa and the Quakes were not giving it up easily.
The 27 year-old had a great year in 2014 with the Chicago Fire, scoring 8 goals and 5 assists, and this is current run of form is reminiscient of that streak. The Quakes really need someone who can deliver with consistency like Amarikwa is now.
[quote_box_center]“I feel like I’ve been put in a position to actually get to score goals, which is nice, for a change,” said Amarikwa, who played with the Quakes in 2009 and 2010 before moving to Colorado. “This league, forwards are expected to defend a lot more than forwards in other leagues, so it kind of — sometimes you might lose your goal-scoring form because you’re more concerned with maintaining shape with the team and making sure you’re helping get back defensively. Sometimes, as an offensive player, you’ve got to be selfish…. I’m being more mindful of [the fact that] first and foremost, my job is to score goals.” [/quote_box_center]
There was a moment last weekend against Houston, when Amarikwa hustled to get a ball from a Dynamo defender, and by the time Amarikwa had the ball in the Houston area, he saw Chris Wondolowski wide open, but took too long to think and got the ball taken away by Rodriguez again.
[quote_box_center]“By the time I got to the ball, I thought I was by myself,” Amarikwa said. “So my first instinct was, ‘Okay, how am I going to try to take a touch and shoot it?’ And in the time where I’m going to take a touch, then I see Chris, so then my mind changes from ‘shoot it’ to ‘try to find him.’ But that’s all it took, the half a second for the defender to come and kick it away. As I was going to kick it to Chris, his foot came in and kicked it out before me.”[/quote_box_center]
[quote_box_center]“I was speaking to Chris about knowing that when I make the unorthodox runs to pressure guys, that he’s going to trust that I’ll win the ball,” he said. “So when I do get it, not to think that I’m alone up there, that he’s crashing the box. Hopefully, next time when I win the ball like that, my first instinct will be to look – because if I look and he’s there, it’s going to be an easy tap-in.”[/quote_box_center]
Now with Amarikwa on the team, San Jose Earthquakes have changed their 4-1-4-1 formation, as he brings not only a lot of speed, but also skills to the team.
[quote_box_center]“I think four goals in five games in pretty impressive, no matter who you are and what league you’re in,” Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear told MLSsoccer.com. “I think to go along with that production, his overall play has been really good, too.”[/quote_box_center]
[quote_box_center]“He brings a lot to this team – his work ethic, his hold-up play,” he said. “He’s done a great job. I love seeing him get rewarded for it.” – Wondolowsky added.[/quote_box_center]
We can see that the this 27 year old is definitely showing hunger and determination, as some might say an indefatigable tenacity.
[quote_box_center]“At the end of the day, I think your effort is the only thing you can control absolutely, every single time,” Amarikwa said. “You might be tired, so 100 percent effort might not result in playing 90 minutes this game, but it can still be everything you have on that given day.”[/quote_box_center]
